November 14th

HOMEWORK TASK: KEY SKILL - Creating a time line. Do it on Google Doc.


1) Define the term 'Absolute Monarch' in your own words . Make sure that you include the terms power, control & divine right.

2) List the major events of Louis XIV’s reign using a timeline (example below). Use your textbook (pgs 138-143)/online (162-168) to help you. Identify which events on your timeline strengthened the French Monarchy and which events weakened it. Make sure you explain why it strengthened/weakened the French Monarchy.

Timeline of Louis XIV's reign
<--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->
1643 - 1715


3) After reading, use the definition you came up with in #1 and explain:

  • The ways in which Louis XIV fits the description
  • Any ways in which Louis XIV does not fit the description





Enlightened Despots Poster Peter Samuel Kim



November 3rd

ENLIGHTENMENT ERA

  1. When and where did they rule and what were their accomplishments?


Frederick the Great
-He was the King of Prussia. He granted religious tolerance, and improved education. He also improved the justice system, and the abolition of torture. However, other than this, he did not do much. He still called himself “the first servant of the state”, which is an attitude that appealed to the philosophes.

Joseph II
-He is considered the most radical reformer during his time. He granted religious tolerance, and introduced legal reforms and freedom of press. He got rid of serfdom, and forced the nobles to pay the peasants for their labor with cash. However, most of his reforms were simply undone after his death.

Catherine the Great
-She is the most admired ruler by the philosophes. Her reformations were based on ideas of Montesquieu, and Beccaria. However, her attempted reformations did not really reach a good goal.
  1. How did they reflect the new Enlightenment ideals?

-They introduced religious freedom, and freedom of speech and press to their people. Some of them even tried to abolish serfdom, which was extremely radical during his time. Their reforms appealed to the philosophes, and gained lots of support from them. Supporting freedom of speech and press, religious tolerance, and the philosophes themselves greatly appealed them, because other monarchs had been jailing and exiling the philosophes. The enlightened despots, even though they introduced the reformation for their own good deeds, and did not want to lose power, they were still revolutionary, and helped philosophes to express their opinions.

  1. What are some of the ways that western culture changed in response to Enlightenment ideas? Be sure to mention the baroque, neoclassical, and classical styles.

-Rather than grandiloquent, ornate, and elaborate styles of art, the Enlightenment ideas caused the arts to change to a new, elegant, and simple style. Before the Enlightenment, Europeans were greatly influenced under the baroque style of art. Baroque style greatly focused on dramatic and grand styles of music and arts. However, neoclassical and classical styles of music are about simpleness and elegance.

3) Think about People TODAY who you would considered to be ENLIGHTENED thinkers. Research what they have done - justify your choice in a paragraph.


I think Oprah Winfrey would be considered to be an enlightened thinker. Not only that her opinions and her existence in the media is extremely influential, but also her television shows are about bringing social taboo subjects into an open place, allowing people to be opened up to accepting minorities. Her shows enabled minorities, such as African Americans, gay or lesbian people, become able to stand up confidently. Her personal confessions and tolerance made people care for problems around them. Also, becoming such a popular, influential and wealthy person from a very difficult background, gave hope to people, especially African Americans.


October 26th

Why have people decided to Occupy Wall Street, and other financial areas in major cities the world over?

People think that a very small percentage of the population is controlling the world's wealth. With all the finances, they are exerting social, economical, and political influence over governments. The protesters think that they cannot stand corrupted corporate authorities, who have been offending everyone's rights, devouring natural resources, and gaining monopoly over all the money and business. The remonstrators are wanting to gain back their rights, and make the society, government and authorities work for the general good.

Who might oppose those who are occupying Wall Street or demonstrating? Why are they opposing them?
The wealthy, or people who have a stable income would oppose to the demonstration. They would lose the grasp and maintenance of their power and wealth, if the protesters succeed to negotiate. When the policies and laws change to support the majority of the population, not only their corruption would be widely spread to the public, but also they would lose influence and dominance over the economy, politics and social lives of people.